Paper picture frame



June 11, 1957 J. A. GORHAM PAPER PICTURE FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1953 Jaw A. 602/1444 INVENTOR.

flrraez/zms J. A. GORHAM PAPER PICTURE FRAME June 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1953 JA/K/ A Goa/m4 INVENTOR.

United States Patent PAPER PICTURE FRAME John A. Gotham, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application December 4, 1953, Serial No. 396,169

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-155) This invention relates to a picture frame and more particularly to a printed and scored sheet of stiff paper or cardboard adapted to be cut and folded along marked lines to form one side of a picture frame.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide means for easily and simply making attractive yet inexpensive picture frames of varying sized and shaped rectangles to fill the need for a frame for pictures which may be of more or less temporary or passing interest.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a medium which may be purchased by the ultimate user and used, according to directions, to assemble inexpensive picture frames of varying sizes.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a picture frame constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the marked and scored sheets used in the present invention;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of two of the side elements shown folded but prior to joining;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of two adjoining side elements joined together.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a picture frame 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising four side elements numbered respectively 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4, there is shown a marked and scored sheet adapted to be used to form one of the sides 11, 12, 13 or 14. It will be appreciated that two sheets 15 will be used to form one pair of non-contiguous sides, i. e. 11 and 13, and two other sheets similar to 15, but constituting mirror images thereof, will be used to form the other pair of sides, i. e. 12 and 14.

Each sheet 15 is provided with a straight side 16, a rounded corner 17, a straight side 18, a notch 19, a hinge tab and a straight portion 21.

The sheet 15 is further provided with a diagonal portion 22 inwardly stepped as at 23 and a further diagonal portion 24 which joins with straight side 25.

The sheet 15 is completed by a straight side 26 intersecting the side 16 at 90 and an inwardly sloped portion 27 joining a further inwardly sloped portion 28 which intersects side 25.

if desired, the portion 21 may be indented, as shown in dotted lines at 21a, to form a hinge tab catch 21b to assist in final assembly as hereinafter explained. Also if desired, the side 26 may be provided with a beveled corner as shown by the dotted line 26a.

In practice the sheet, as actually supplied to the user, will have two sheets, one as indicated at 15 and one 2,795,071 Patented June 11, 1957 its mirror image imprinted thereon with the various sides, tab and notch indicated by printed lines.

Each of such sheets will also be provided with some lines 29, 30 and 31, as indicated, and a mat guide line 32.

Also imprinted on each of the sheets are a series of' lines 26', 27' and 28, each such line being parallel re spectively to the lines 26, 27 and 28 and each such line of such series being spaced /v. apart. The sheet may be marked in inches as shown to indicate the line at which a user is to cut to form a side of a frame of the desired length.

Each sheet will also be provided with shaded areas 33, 34, 35 and 36 for a purpose hereinafter described.

To form a picture frame in accordance with the present invention, the user will select two sheets, each having a sheet 15 and its mirror image imprinted thereon. If a 20 by 12 frame is desired, each sheet 15 will be cut along the 20 line and each mirror image along the 12" line.

With the sheets cut out, the user next folds the sheet along score line 31, bending the folded portion down from above as shown in Figure 4. Next, from the other side of the sheet (Figure 4), the sheet is folded upwardly about score lines 29 and 30. This will present two members, 15 and its mirror image 15a folded as shown in Figure 5.

The next step is to apply glue, rubber cement or the like to the shaded areas 33, 34, 35 and 36. Guide line 32 is carefully aligned with 16 (see Figure 6) and the superposed areas bonded. The members 15 and 1512 are now joined together by bonding the tab 20 of one to the areas 36 of the other. The tabs 20 may be held back temporarily while squaring and mitering the corners by engaging them in the hinge tab catches 21b. The final area to be bonded in each case is area 34. The frame is then complete.

It will be noted that the angle of the portion 28 is so chosen with respect to the angle of the portion 27 that when the sheet is folded as shown in Figure 6, both lines 27 and 28 lie in the same plane and thus the portion 28 of sheet 15a may be engaged with the portion 24 of sheet 15 to produce squared and mitered corners. It will be further noted that the portion between lines 25 and 31 provides a flat mat to which the picture to be framed may be secured.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that there will thus be constructed a picture frame of any desired size which is simple, economical and which will permit attractive framing of pictures of mere passing or temporary interest.

While there has been described what is presently considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for forming a picture frame comprising a sheet of stiff material having a portion lined and scored for cutting and folding to form a section of a picture frame having a border of pyramid shaped cross section and a fiat inwardly extending mat including parallel crease lines dividing said sheet into a substantially rectangular bottom panel; a rectangular outside panel form ing one side of the pyramid; an inside panel forming piece being lined to be cut at a corresponding angle such that when said blank is assembled said side of said panel and of said trapezoidal shaped piece lie in a single plane disposed at 45 to the crease lines; and a second portion constitutinga mirror image: of saidlfirst portion whereby 5 said portions when assembled and joined/form two ad jacent: sides of said frame with a squared and mitered corner. 1 i

2. A blank as set forth in claim 1 in which said outside panel: is lined to be cut to provide a notch adjacent said 10 hinge tab to facilitate folding the other section thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Burr June 16, 1953 

